Texas' top football recruit and Mesquite teammate commit to Longhorns

Texas' top football recruit and Mesquite teammate commit to Longhorns

Malik Jefferson (left) and DeAndre McNeal, from Poteet High School in Mesquite, have committed to UT Austin.
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Jefferson committed to UT during a ceremony early Friday morning.
official_malikj/Twitter

The No. 1 football recruit in the Lone Star State (which basically means the best in the country, am I right?) has just committed to the University of Texas at Austin: five-star linebacker Malik Jefferson.

A recent alum of Poteet High School in Mesquite, Jefferson comes with the kind of athleticism that "allows him to make impact plays all over the field." His UT enrollment begins in January.

According to our partners at KVUE in Austin, Jefferson chose UT over Texas A&M and UCLA. He also explored the football programs at Texas Tech and the University of Alabama. During an interview with ESPN, Jefferson said that coach Charlie Strong was a big motivator in his decision to sign on with Longhorns.

"I want to become one of the best, and I think Coach Strong can take me there," said Jefferson. "He's real, 24-7. You can't deny that."

Jefferson committed just a few minutes after his Poteet teammate, wide receiver DeAndre McNeal, also signed on with the Horns. McNeal is a star in his own right. The two celebrated during a commitment ceremony in Poteet on Friday morning where, we would like to point out, Jefferson's and McNeal's fashion games were also on point.

Many sports analysts are predicting that this could be a game changer for UT football. Says SB Nation, "Jefferson made the decision to change the trajectory of the Texas Longhorns program."

In addition to his athletic prowess, many say Jefferson has the kind of magnetism that could drive other top recruits to Austin. The Houston Chronicle notes that Jefferson's commitment could reinstate UT's dominance over A&M in the statewide recruitment scramble.

"His commitment could go a long way in proving that the Longhorns, who once dominated the state's recruiting landscape, are poised to reassert themselves as a force," says the Chronicle.